Dancing toy



R. F. CALHOUN.

DANCING TOY.

APPLICATION min 5.11. 1920.

Patented sepu 27,1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

ROLAND F. CALHOON, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MARTHA W. LANGFORD, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS. 1

DANCING TOY.

Patented Sept. 27. 1921.

Application filed February 17, 1920. Serial No. 359,264.

T o all whom it'may concern Be it knownthat I, ROLAND F. CALHooN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Kansas City, county of lVyandotte, State of Kansas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Dancing Toys, of which the following is a complete specification. 1

The present invention relates to toy devices, and aims to provide a novel toy construction comprising a dancing figure peculiarly mounted in such a manner as to have dancing movements imparted thereto either through the means provided for suspending the figure or through the medium of the support which is providedfor engagement with the feet of the dancing figure.

Accordingly, I provide a, jointed dancing figure which is provided with means for suspending the same from a resilient arm, and also with a spring or resilient member which is adapted to be supported in position. for engagement with the feet of the figure and in such a manner as to have vibratory movements imparted thereto for causing the figure to execute clog dancing movements upon the surface of said spring member.

It is also sought to devise a novel structure of the character described in the form of a collapsible frame adapted to be folded into compact relation when not in use.

With these general objects in view, the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating a suitable form of the improvement, after which the novel features therein will be particularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a toy device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; and

Fig. 3 is a side view illustrating the frame portion of the device in collapsed or folded relation.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the same illustrates the present improved toy construction as comprising a jointed dancing figure 4, which is provided with a coil suspension spring 5 adapted to be hooked over the free end of a resilient rod 6, the other end portion of which rod is passed through a suitable opening 7 provided in the upper end of an upright frame member 8, the adjacent end of the rod being seated'in a socket 9 provided in the upper end of another upright frame member 10, the rod 6 being prevented from casual displacement by means of a cotter pin 11 pass ing through the opening 7 and an opening 12 in the rod. I 2

Each of the upright members 8 and 10 is provided with a hinge member 14 for pivotally connecting said upright to the top surface of a spring or resilient board'or strip 15, the arrangement being such that the said members 8 and 10 are adapted. to swing outwardly away from each other into folded relation with the board 15, as illustrated in Fig. 3. For supporting the said members 8 and 10 in upright relation, the said members are also provided with a common form of toggle links 16 serving, when the said links are straightened as shown in Fig. 1, to firmly brace the members 8 and 10 in their upright position. For further securing and latching the upper ends of the members 8 and 10 when in use, the member 8 is provided witha curved latch piece 17 connected by a hinge 18 to the upper end of said member 8, the free end of the latch piece 17 being provided with a hinged hasp 19 adapted to engage over a screw eye 20 to which it is fastened by means of a suitable pin 21 as shown in Fig. 2.

In the operation of the above described toy structure, the parts are arranged in opened relation as shown in Fig. 1 and one end of the resilient strip 15 (the end opposite that carrying the dancing figure 4) is rested upon a suitable support such as the seat 22 of a stool or chair or the like, where it is retained in position by the person occupying said seat and operating the device. The actuation of the dancing figure 4 may then be effected by suitable vibration of the rod 6, or by similar vibration of the entire frame work including the spring or resilient strip 15; this vibration may be carried out by the operator simply engaging manually the rod 6, or, where the whole frame work, is vibrated, by engagement of the latch piece 17 or any other portion of the collapsible frame work. In the one mode of operation, the actuation of the toy is effected through the medium of its suspension element 15, whereas in the other mode of operation the same is carried out by a joint vibration of both the suspension means and the surface of the resilient strip 15 which engages the extremities of the dancing figure. By experience and practice, the opera: tor may acquire a considerable degree of skill in producing the desired movements of the dancing figure and causing the same to execute a lively form of clog dance on the free end of the resilient strip accompanied by appropriate swinging movements of the arms of said figure, the movements of said figure, as a whole, resulting in a very ludicrous performance.

It is thus apparent that I have devised a novel and entertaining form of device ineluding a resilient frame structure adapted to develop all the possible movementsof the dancing figure, which frame work is adapted to be collapsed into a convenient and compact form; and while I have shown what is now regarded as the preferred form of embodiment of the invention, I desire to reserve the right to make such changes as may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

That I claimis:

1. A dancing toy structure comprising a jointed dancing figure and a collapsible frame work carrying a resilient .rod suspending said figure, said frame Work comprising a resilient strip presenting a surface iii-position for engagement with the feet of the dancing figure, and a pair of spaced upright members hingedly connected with said strip and provided with means for bracing and latching said members in upright relation.

2. A dancing toy structure comprising a resilient strip, a pair of spaced upright members hingedly mounted on said strip, a curved latch piececonnectin'g the upper ends of said member together, a resilient rod engaging and carried by said upright members, and a jointed dancing figure suspended from said rod and adapted for: engagement with one end of said resilient strip.

.3. A dancing toy structure comprising a resilient strip, a pair of spaced upright members hingedly mounted on said strip, a

curved latch piece connecting the upper ends of said member together, a resilient rod engaging and carried by said upright members, and a jointed dancing figure suspended from said rod and adapted for engagement with one, end of said resilient strip; and break joint braces connecting said upright members with said resilient strip at the outer sides of said members respectively.

In Witness whereof I hereto afiix my signature. l I

ROLAND F; C LHOUN. 

